I had an interesting conversation with my son the other day. He wanted me to call someone about getting permission for something he really wanted to do. I think when our children ask us to do something, and it’s something we know they really want, we automatically want to help them get it. Or, it could just be me, but I had to stop myself.
If you don’t ask, you probably won’t receive.
He is old enough to call and ask permission. He is very capable of asking for what he wants. Yes, this one scares him a little, but don’t all things we really want scare us a little to ask for? There’s a lot on the line. Someone could tell us no. But, the flip side is that if you don’t ask, you probably won’t receive it. As my parents used to say, things don’t just drop out of trees – especially money. I heard that one a lot from my mom.
So, I told him I wasn’t going to do for him, something he was very capable of doing on is own. If I do it for him, then I enable him. I take away the sense of accomplishment he will feel if he makes the call himself. On the other hand, if they say “no”, he’ll feel disappointed. But, then he learns another valuable lesson. How to get back up, and try again – pivot, create a plan B. If there is a will, there’s a way.
As I was thinking back on this conversation, I thought about how much it applies to building a business.
You aren’t going to add new customers or team members if you don’t ask. Yes, it’s scary but what’s the alternative? You can wait for them to come to you. This happens occasionally, but I would never try to build a business on that possibility.
Think about it. What will it cost you if you don’t ask, even if it’s scary?
For one, you won’t get what you want. You might not get the customers or team members you want to add to grow your business. It may mean the loss of vacations, your home, time with your children, financial security, extra time, college funds – I could go on and on.
I hate to think what I would not have been able to experience, have, do, and become if I hadn’t walked with my fear, and asked anyway.
“Always ask yourself: “What will happen if I say nothing?”
I bring this up because if you have a product, service, or opportunity to offer, you have a gift.
If you can be a solution for someone, whether that’s a product or service that solves a problem for them or an opportunity that they have been looking for, you have a beautiful gift to offer. A gift of a needed solution. It’s also a gift for you. A gift for you is growing your business, earning more income, having more time, etc.
Here are a few tips that will make asking a little easier:
- Bring your fear along with you. I know this sounds funny, but what we resist, persists. Fear isn’t always a bad thing. It let’s us know when we need to pay attention. Just because it’s scary, doesn’t mean you can’t ask anyway. Let the fear know you won’t be making any decisions from fear, but it can come along anyway as a silent partner.
- Make a game out of it. I tend to make a game out of everything that scares me. It makes it more fun, and I’m always up for a challenge. I used to play the game of 10 nos. If I got 10 nos in a row, I got to quit asking. This very rarely ever happened. Usually, I would think I was getting close, and then someone would say “yes”, and I would start over.
- Change your focus. When we are afraid to ask, usually we are focused on ourselves. Thoughts like, “they don’t want what I have to offer”, they’ll think I’m being pushy”, “what will they think of me”, “I don’t want to look stupid”, and on and on. The focus is on you. What if you put the focus on them? What your product or opportunity may be able to help them with.
- Set a daily intention. Set an intention on how many people you want to serve that day. Make it fun, and be aware of who comes to mind or crosses your path.
- Be curious. What has always been my strength, is my curiosity. Who can I serve today? What difference will I be able to make in someone’s life today. Who will I meet today? Then trust that if you put yourself in the right places, your customers will appear.
Be courageous and ask! When you ask from a place of service and being a solution for someone, then you are that much closer to adding customers, team members, and fulfilling your dreams.
A warm welcome to this week’s new subscribers! I’m so glad you’re here.